Damage to a Fort Collins police officer's cruiser after she collided with an oncoming vehicle on Prospect Road this morning. / Trevor Hughes/The Coloradoan

Trevor Hughes/The Coloradoan

Dawn Johnsen of the Fort Collins police is pictured during the Shop With A Cop event at the Walmart on U.S. Highway 287 in North Loveland on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008. / Coloradoan library

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Police arrested a Fort Collins man Monday morning on suspicion of drunken driving after he veered his SUV into oncoming traffic and crashed into a police officer’s patrol car on Prospect Road near Lesher Middle School.

Officer Dawn Johnsen was rushed to nearby Poudre Valley Hospital following the crash, which occured about 10 a.m. Johnsen, a longtime school resource officer, was released later in the day with minor injuries, police said.

In a statement, police Chief John Hutto gave thanks that Johnsen wasn’t seriously hurt. He said she’s resting comfortably at home.

“The job of a police officer is inherently dangerous,” he said. “Every day our dedicated officers risk injury and even their lives to serve the community they care about.”

Even as Johnsen was being admitted to the hospital, officers were handcuffing Raymond Randall Reilly Jr, 62. Police say Reilly turned in front of Johnsen’s marked car, colliding right-front to right-front. Police said both vehicles were traveling at or near the posted 35 mph speed limit.

Anyone with information about the collision and who has not already given a statement to police is asked to call Officer David Kaes at (970) 221-6555.